Get ready for some extra-special PEEPtastic surprises to celebrate the Carroll County Arts Council’s 10th annual PEEPshow to be held Friday April 7 through Wednesday April 19 at the Carroll Arts Center. This sweet event features nearly 200 marshmallow masterpieces, including sculptures, dioramas, mosaics and even videos, all crafted from or inspired by sugary sweet PEEPS®. This major regional event has attracted the attention of NBC Nightly News, the Food Network, and Just Born, the company that has made PEEPS® since the 1940’s.

Last year the PEEPshow attracted more than 24,000 visitors from the area. Previous year’s events have featured a wide variety of entries, including a life-sized Olaf from the movie Frozen, the “Statue of Peeperty,” the “Big Bird,” “Peep Panther,” and a host of magical monsters, sports heroes, movie characters and other clever celebrations of pop culture, history, and fine art. In addition, there are even “Peep” films shown in the Arts Center’s 263-seat movie theatre. Last year’s entries featured a record-breaking total of 34,000 PEEPS®!

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the PEEPshow there will be some exciting new touches, including embossed plastic vote tokens, online voting capabilities, specially created anniversary souvenir t-shirts, additional prizes, and a VIP preview party. Prize packages will be awarded to the five entries receiving the most in-person votes and to the five entries receiving the most online votes. The overall Grand Prize winner will be determined by combining the number of in-person and online votes and will receive an extra special prize package from Just Born, Inc. and the Carroll County Arts Council. There will be an additional award for the favorite video as they will not be eligible to compete for online votes.

PEEPS® are a confection created by Just Born of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The candy has achieved an almost cult-like following and several large metropolitan newspapers across the country have organized diorama contests around these sweet treats. But certainly none rival the scale and quality of what will be on display at the Carroll Arts Center.

All proceeds will benefit the Carroll County Arts Council, one of the community’s most vibrant non-profit organizations. Admission to the event is free. Hours are 10 am to 7 pm daily, including Easter Sunday, with the last entry at 6:30 pm. Voting will end at 5 pm on the final day of the event. Visitors should be prepared to wait in long lines that form outside the building. Groups with special needs are encouraged to call at least 10 days in advance for accommodations.

The PEEPshow is sponsored by Just Born/Peeps & Company, New Windsor State Bank, the Carroll County Office of Tourism, Quantum Internet and Telephone, Ben Rogers of Edward Jones Investments, and local orthodontist Dr. Edward M. Goldman.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is the men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. RCIS asks men (and women!) to walk one mile in heels through downtown Westminster. The walk concludes at Westminster City Park. After the walk, there will be food, music by DJ Raptor, and door prize giveaways (All registered walkers are eligible to win).

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® is a literal play on the phrase, “You can never really understand a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes”. Through education and advocacy, RCIS hopes to get the community talking about a subject that’s often difficult to discuss: gender relations and sexual violence against women.

FeesHeat 1: $13.00 for all preregistered participants that would like a T-shirt; $7.00 for preregistered participants that do not want a T-shirt; Heat 2: $11.00 for all preregistered participants that would like a T-shirt; $5.00 for preregistered participants that do not want a T-shirt;

Information for Race-day

Packet pickup and Post-raceWestminster Family Center (11 Longwell Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157)Monday, April 10th from 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM (please do not arrive before noon)Tuesday, April 11th from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PMWednesday, April 12th from 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM*Packet pick-up is closer to the FINISH line, NOT the start line which is 1 mile east on Main Street.

7:30 PM Awards and Ice Cream Sandwiches for ALL!There is NO race-day registration.

Finishnear the Carroll County Public Library, Westminster Branch (50 East Main Street)

Parkingnear start - 140 Village Shopping Center; near registration & finish - downtown municipal lot between Rt. 27 and the old armory. Please do not park at the fire station as it is no longer the location for packet pick-up!**Allow enough time for travel, parking, packet pickup, and transporting yourself to the start line (~1 mile from packet pickup)